[Only a few choose to fight...]

The bright rays of the sun slapped my face in the sense of relief and calmness. But, for me, it was kind of the opposite. Everything felt heavy.

[Only a few choose to fight...]

My mind loops back to that comment from the stream. Replayed in my mind over and over, like a broken and loose cassette tape. Feels like a video I tried to play back. Clicking the reload button again and again.

Stop. Click. Repeat.

Stop. Click. Repeat.

[Only a few choose to fight...]

Only a few choose to fight...]

[Lies.]

[Reason.]

[Why people fight or flee.]

Seriously...why is that comment getting into my head in loop...? Geez...

My shoe heel stomped over the pavement as I walked along the sidewalk. Mind bursting with questions and replaying words. Walking past the underpass park, I halted as a shadow gradually grew over the pavement engulfing mine. I almost shrieked at the sight as I looked up.

A boy was falling.

At that moment, my body couldn't move. Wouldn't move rather. 'What should I do...?' was the only thought in my mind. For a split second his eyes opened and we locked eyes. Those eyes were loud. Screaming so profoundly.

Then came a whump.

Just for a second, the world went black, I tried to screech as I felt his weight on my body. A low husky wince escaped him. That wince wasn't a cry out of pain, instead it was a wince of dissapointment. I was so sure that fall would cost us an ambulance. Luckily, his jacket got caught on a tree branch near the low-overpass bridge, breaking his momentum and saving both of us a concussion and only bruises.

"Excuse me...Are you crazy...!? You could've gotten both of us seriously injured...!!" I unconsciously yelled.

No response.

"What were you even doing...!?"

Seriously!? Of course you know exactly what he was doing...don't act so innocent...

"Never mind...could you just...get off of me...please..." I grunted as I groaned from the stinging pain when he fell on me. He only looked at me and scoffed pushing himself up. He threw his hood up and just left me on the ground.

"Thank you...for nothing..." I mumbled as I managed to get myself up and brushed the dust off my clothes. I glanced back at his receding figure. I cleared up my throat and called out to him. "Hey! I know it's not my business but...it's not always the answer...!"

I know he heard me, his body halted and flinched a bit before he hesitantly looked back, then walked away again. I didn't want to call him out but I saw that scraped skin on his shin and cheeks; his jeans were slightly torn too, revealing a small bruise- probably from when he fell.

Thankfully, I wasn't bruised at all - rather only dirty and wrinkly. I sighed and continued walking towards the campus on the other side of this road or I'll be late. I only have 10 minutes left to get to class.

As my foot touched the floor of the room, my eyes immediately darted to the brown shoulder lengthed haired girl sitting at the back by the window doing her makeup. I approached the girl with a smile. "Retouch agad Lexi?.." I asked teasingly. The latter glanced at me and said. "Yes~! Syempre naman bes. Ang sama kaya tingnan kapag morning na morning haggard...like ewww" I chuckled as I set my bag down on my table.

"Nga pala. May napili ka nang school kung saan ka mag college?" Lexi suddenly asked.

"Wala pa nga eh. I don't really have time to think about that right now..." I answered.

"Taas ng pangarap mo rin noh?" Lexi teased.

"Grabe ka maging sarcastic. Alam mo, sa kung gaano ka kagirly, ganun din kawalang preno yang bibig mo"

"Says the defensive girl."

"Ewan ko sayo, di pantay lipstick mo."

Her reaction was faster than a bullet as she immediately glanced at the mini mirror she's holding just to check. "Tsk. Pantay naman ah." Lexi side-eyed me as I sat down on my chair. I noticed her checking me out from head to toe. "What?" I asked.

A deep sigh escaped Lexi as she stared at me crossing her arms and legs. I almost rolled my eyes, immediately realizing what she's going to say. "I know, I look like a mess. I didn't even bother to freshen myself up."

"Didnt think it mattered if I did anyways" I mumbled under my breath. Lexi was still staring and squinting her eyes. Moments later Lexi stood up in front of me and with a use of the tip of her brush, she loosened some of my hair to look like side-bangs.

"There we go, five-head no more". She clapped her hands as if she was proud of what she did. She flinched a bit when I gave her a death stare. "Oo na, ako na may malaking forehead...dont need to rub it in geez.." I whined annoyed and irritably.

"Heh, sorry na bestie..." She raised her fingers in a peace sign and smiled.

I scoffed chuckling at her gesture. Lexi is so bubbly all the time. I was always so envy of her finding ways to be optimistic and have a positive attitude toward things.

I took out my notebook flipping the pages onto an empty one, when I noticed - my fingernails were chipped. My mind wondered...will that boy be here tomorrow...? or did he find another height...?

I thought about the comment again.

[Only a few choose to fight...]

Only few.

I'm not one of those few.

Seconds later, the door open with a soft slam, revealing our professor.

"Morning class...!"

12:02 PM

It was lunch time, and the halls were filled with chatters, and the sound of their footsteps echoed through the corridors as students made their way to the cafeteria.

"Mellie...lunch...?" Lexi approached and asked. We often eat lunch together at the rooftop, telling each other secrets, and some other stuffs, but in some other days, I just wanted to be alone. I politely declined Lexi's invitation.

"Okie doke, see ya later?" She accepted the rejection with a bright genuine smile. I knew she would understand.

"Mhmm...you know where to find me"

It's not like I don't want to be with her or eat with my best friend...It's just...I prefer some place where I can be me, sometimes. No mask. No lies. No pretending...just me.

And here I am at the art room.

Besides from having an interest in music, I'm very fond of art. I paint to get my stress out. The fresh aroma of paint on a blank canvas are quite refreshing. Art is like music, you can express how you feel in a creative and visual way. I picked up a white palette and poured different acrylic paints on it.

I sat in front of the white canvas, as I stretched my arms letting my hand do the magic. My hand guided the pencil to outline the shape of a girl wearing a uniform. The girl in the canvas expresses deep sorrow and ache as she releases all her doubts, sufferings onto bubble coming out of her mouth. The tip of the brush collided with the fabric covering it with layers of various shades of blue to make it seem like ocean deep blue.

"I knew you would be here."

A voice call out, as I hear footsteps coming closer. I sighed, knowing exactly who it was. "Kung gusto mo lang mang-asar, umalis ka na lang..." I said not even looking back at him as I continue painting.

He stopped his tracks and stood beside me. "Not here to make your head pop...yet anyway" I rolled my eyes at the last thing he said. Not a day goes by where he doesn't get on my nerves.

"Ano ba kailangan mo, Neo?" I halted my painting and glanced at him.

He didn't reply, instead he took a stool, placing it beside mine and sat on it and never said anything. He then took out something from an echo bag he was carrying and tossed it onto my lap. It was a sandwich.

"I saw Lexi going to the cafeteria...alone..."

You don't have to remind me...I feel guilty already...

"She bought that sandwich for you..." I glanced down at the sandwich laid on my lap. She did...? I placed down the palette and brushes on the ground and grabbed the sandwich. We were enveloped by silence for a while as I unwrapped the sandwich and Neo studied my canvas. I hope he doesn't criticise it that much. Neo is part of the Graphics Committee of the Student Council. So he can observe every detail in a piece. Even a small mistake; like a small wrong stroke, he can see it.

"Lolo's wondering if you can stop by for dinner tonight..." I coughed almost choking from the sandwich and shock. "Wha-e-excuse me...?". He glanced at me, as he stood up tucking his hands inside his pockets.

"You can say no if you don't want to..."

I didn't know what to respond. Neo and I had been friends since we were like three or four years old. We used to be in a playdate at daycare and then we just clicked. Friends since then. Though, when we turned 14 and 15, our grandparents decided to make a deal and have the both of us have a relationship. An arranged courtship. An arramged deal to save a specific patent his no-good for nothing father made. We didn't have the choice to decline.

"so...?" he asked again.

I didn't respond right away- I fidgeted with my fingers before I managed to get a single word out. "D-do I need to be in a formal dress...?"

He blinked once and burst out laughing. "Oh my gosh... Ceida, you really are something else..." He wiped a single tear from his eyes with one finger. "No, you don't have to...just...be you... they'll love you just the way you are..." He said as he walked towards the door.

"I know I do..." He whispered, but loud enough for me to hear.